tupperware in fridge?

[FireDragon]

Summer will eventually be rolling around and since I live in an apartment in Florida, I'm thinking about what to do to avoid tobacco beetles. I know many have suggested a wineador, but I already use a refrigerator to store tobacco products, e-liquid, batteries, and toiletries/cosmetics. My Li-ion batteries go in the freezer compartment, but I have used it to freeze new cigars as well. I run the fridge on the lowest setting and the top shelf is about 48F. It's just a place to keep things cool. So, I am wondering if it would be OK to put some small Rubbermaid contaners in the fridge with Boveda packs and if they would be OK?

Otherwise, I may look into a small wine cooler unit- whatever it is, it needs to be energy efficient and not noisy or distracting.

 

[sofc]

No

 

[CaptainSaint]

The tupperware and boveda packs will work however IMHO I believe that 48 degrees is much too cold for storage...I would say ideally you would wanna be somewhere in the mid to high 60s.

 

[FireDragon]

If I got a small wine cooler, would it be able to work ok in a room that is 76-78F?

 

[sofc]

Yes

 

[CaptainSaint]

If I got a small wine cooler, would it be able to work ok in a room that is 76-78F?

Ya I believe that should work out for you

 

[jonboy]

No

Yes

Agreed.

 

[FireDragon]

The tobacco fridge might be useful as a temporary stay... I have heard that tobacco beetles can be killed if they are stored at above-freezing temperatures, for instance 41F, if they are kept that cold for two weeks or more.

 

[Zigarro]

I've never understood why lower temps hurt cigars, when the bigger manufacturers freeze their product at -40 for two weeks before they go on the market? I seriously doubt storing an air-tight Tupperware with a Boveda in a fridge can harm a stick. The main problem I've encountered with my wineador, is when it's cooling, there's condensate to deal with which WILL induce mold. I recently laid a 9" stocking filled with beads across the back floor to absorb the moisture and I'm careful not to allow containers to touch the back wall. Many are Blessed to live in cooler climes and have a basement, but here in Texas, it gets hot as hell in summer and one must cool his sticks! Good luck...

 

[sofc]

They're your sticks and do with them what you like but lower temperatures do have a tendency to dry out the cigars even in air tight tupperware with bovedas.

 

[Zigarro]

They're your sticks and do with them what you like but lower temperatures do have a tendency to dry out the cigars even in air tight tupperware with bovedas.

I bow to your expertise bro, but the physics don't work out for me; if the container is "air-tight" and there is proper humidification within, how can cooler temps affect RH level? And again, why doesn't freezing those cigars at -40 cause them any harm? I'm only saying here that we needn't fear if we store sticks at temps say- 45 to 70 degrees. I'm certainly no expert but I just don't see the issue?

 

[Smoqman]

I like mine fresh outta the oven, like Kramer.

 

[SDShark]

I like mine fresh outta the oven, like Kramer.

Hahaha. Man, I could talk Kramer all day!

 

[Smoqman]

Comedians in Cars getting Coffee -

 

[JuzCallMeDee]

http://www.openboxdirect.com/Koldfront-TWR282S-KFSD-28-Bottle-Deluxe-Ultra-Capacity-Free-Standing-Thermoelectric-Wine-Cooler/TWR282S-KFSD,default,pd.html?cgid=Beverage_and_Bar-Scratch_and_Dent-Wine_Coolers
use code welcome5 and get it for $70!

 

[Jesse]

Oh damn, my account hates you right now. So tempting!

 

[CVAC085]

IMHO, keep them in a Tupperware with a boveda stored in a cool, dark spot in your house. I've stored mine in a dresser drawer before I had a big bad humidor. And I had no issues with it. I do keep some time to time in my travel humidor with a Xikar drymistat stick and that has worked for me.

 

[xjsnake]

I bow to your expertise bro, but the physics don't work out for me; if the container is "air-tight" and there is proper humidification within, how can cooler temps affect RH level?

Because RH stands for 'Relative Humidity'. It's a measurement of the % of moisture in the air as compared to the maximum moisture the air can hold at a given temperature. That's a bit of an oversimplification but the concept holds true. Anyway, warm air holds more moisture than colder air, thus there is more moisture at 65% RH at 70 degrees F, then there is at 65% at 55 degrees F.

The applications of this are important. If you were to take an "air-tight" container at say 70% RH at room temp, and put it in the refrigerator, you would likely over time see condensation form inside the container because the air inside cooled and could no longer hold the water vapor.

This concept is why hygrometers for humidors are really not very accurate as they don't factor in atmospheric pressure and temperature when measuring relative humidity.

The graph shows the relationship between temperature and the amount of moisture in the air, relative to a change in temperature.

 

[Zigarro]

Really appreciate the info Snake, but as I view that chart, it almost makes my case that between 45 and 70 degrees there's no serious loss of humidity (for our purpose of cigar storage). Additionally, I wonder whether the confined space of a tupp-a-dor as compared to the wide open area of that space in which the test took place might skew the result?
I think, in light of your info, I'll stick one which is holding at 70% in my fridge for a couple days and see if there's a major enough drop to warrant Firedragon's not doing it. I'll get back with the result and thanks again, bro!

 

[FireDragon]

I'm already started sticking my better sticks in the fridge. The temperature in the fridge is about 48 F.

Several of them I froze for two days to kill beetles, and they look like they are now in better condition in terms of appearance than before. Inexpensive, rustic Havana Classicos that were lumpy before now have a smoother appearance.

Since I'm using Boveda, I'm not too worried about condensation- the Boveda will absorb the excess moisture.